Ohio Highway Patrol trooper killed in line of duty remembered

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Perez Jr. was honored during the 18th anniversary of his death on May 15, 2000. He was remembered with a Memorial Sign Dedication Ceremony at the OSHP Milan Post May 15, 2018. Perez died three days after his patrol car was struck from behind by another vehicle during a traffic stop late at night.
Briana Contreras — The Morning Journal

Craig James of Cleveland is a dear friend to Robert Perez Sr., the father of OSHP Trooper Robert Perez Jr. of the Milan Post. James spoke on behalf of the stories he has heard of Robert Perez Jr. from the father and helped celebrate his life during the 18th anniversary of Robert Perez, Jr.’s death on May 15, 2000. The celebration honored the late trooper with a Memorial Sign Dedication Ceremony at the OSHP Milan Post May 15, 2018.
Briana Contreras — The Morning Journal

The date May 15 celebrates National Peace Officers Memorial Day across the country, but it’s also a day to remember a local trooper who died in the line of duty.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Perez Jr., a Lorain native assigned to the Milan Post, died May 15, 2000, three days after his patrol car was struck from behind by another vehicle while at a traffic stop.

Family, law enforcement and friends honored Perez 18 years later with a Memorial Sign Dedication at the Milan Post.

Advertisement

The sign will be located at the site of the crash, Milepost 121 on the Ohio Turnpike in Milan.

Ohio Turnpike officials said the sign recognizes Perez and his service, as well as memorial to his life.

The sign notifies drivers to move over for stopped vehicles with flashing lights.

The sign dedication ceremony is a program of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission as part of a Work Zone Awareness Campaign.

It also is an effort to ask motorists to move over for first responders with flashing lights on highways.

Brian Newbacher, a public information officer of the Ohio Turnpike, said the commission authorized the sign last fall to recognize Perez and the 12 men who died working in the line of duty for the turnpike since 1967.

Distracted driving, intoxication, speeding, following too closely and not paying attention have been some of those causes, Newbacher said.

Memorial sign ceremonies put a name and a face to the people and families who have suffered these losses, he said.

“That should make people sit up and take notice,” Newbacher said.

Perez’s mother, Anita Carrion of Parma, said the ceremony is heartwarming for her son, other officers and others killed in the line of duty because not pulling over for other vehicles is still an issue.

“It’s been 18 years he’s been gone, but his memory goes on,” Carrion said. “I’m just honored and in awe of the ceremony they put together.

“His memory will continue on and it does bring comfort. But he is forever in our hearts everyday.”

Trooper William Head, assigned to the Hiram Post, worked at Milan Post with Perez and was on scene the day of the accident.

Head said he remembers the incident like it was yesterday and it still sits with him.

Perez was born to be in law enforcement or in an authoritative position because that’s all he talked about, Head said.

He added that Perez was funny and comical too.

Head remembers times where Perez would be nervous and asked him how to handle cases when he was first hired in 1999.

“He wanted to shine and always be on his p and q’s,” Head said. “I’m just happy they did this for him and have a sign to remember him.”

Perez’s father Robert Perez Sr., of North Royalton, said his son’s death still feels fresh, but it means a lot to him to finally have a sign dedicated to his son.

The elder Perez said for some time, he has tried to get a sign dedicated to his son and is glad to have it.

“It means a lot to me,” he said. “Before I leave this earth, I wanted something dedicated to my son.”

The elder Perez said his son had an impact on many lives in his 24 years of life.

If he was still alive, he said his son probably would still be helping people.